LIVE from the MAIDEN VOYAGE OF THE ROTTERDAM VII - TRANSATLANTIC

[kazu]

5 hours ago, yarnsinger said:

We were able to use it for our Waterpik, but only after inserting its grounded plug into an adapter with European-style prongs. We used it on 120V. The switch on the right, as you know, switches between 120 and the higher European voltage.

 

Thanks that’s really good to know as I have to use my waterpik now.  Much appreciated 👍 

[kazu]

14 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

I think that these are the 'terracotta soldiers' from Rotterdam VI

Please excuse the poor interpretation of a photo opportunity.

 

they are indeed.  One of the things I loved about that ship.

 

Our photo op was with the horses 😉 

[rkacruiser]

14 minutes ago, VMax1700 said:

I think that these are the 'terracotta soldiers' from Rotterdam VI

 

That is what I recall seeing.  And, the lady in the photo is certainly more attractive than either of the "soldiers"!

[sansterre]

Having trouble posting on Cruise Critic.  Not sure why.  

Will try again after dinner.  Gala night tonight!

5 hours ago, broberts said:

Google told me "From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. A number of ships of the Holland America Line have been named Statendam, the name of an old dike on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee: SS Statendam (1898) was an ocean liner launched in 1898 and sold to the Allan Line in 1911, being renamed SS Scotian"

 

5 hours ago, broberts said:

Google told me "From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. A number of ships of the Holland America Line have been named Statendam, the name of an old dike on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee: SS Statendam (1898) was an ocean liner launched in 1898 and sold to the Allan Line in 1911, being renamed SS Scotian"

I will let Nick know of the discussion here about his trivia question.

 

[sansterre]

Sailaway yesterday was delayed until around 7:30-8:00.  Captain said ship was waiting for necessary supplies.  There was no hurry to leave as our first port, Bimini is close to Ft. L.

Departure was beautiful with at least two fire boats shooting water and a chorus of horns of all types including a Princess and Carnival cruise ship nearby.

We watched from our balcony and took photos and videos.  I'll post photo, not sure that I can put a video on here, or not.

[sansterre]

Good morning Bimini!

[Laminator]

@sansterreHow was Boarding yesterday? Did they hopefully stick to the boarding times? I am hearing the cruise on the 10th will have 1800 to 2000 pax. 

[Brodysmum]

9 hours ago, yarnsinger said:

That's not really new. They were doing the same thing in 2019 on the Nieuw Statendam. They tried charging for a second entree but got a lot of pushback, so I think this was their other solution. You do pay extra for lobster, but it's a whole lobster, not a small tail.

 

[Brodysmum]

We did a Mediterranean cruise a couple of years ago, we didn’t pay for lobster in the main dining room. Oh well…

thank you for your answer

[vitagirl]

the Ocean Bar 

[VMax1700]

O. M. G.  😲

 

[Alphen]

16 hours ago, broberts said:

Google told me "From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. A number of ships of the Holland America Line have been named Statendam, the name of an old dike on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee: SS Statendam (1898) was an ocean liner launched in 1898 and sold to the Allan Line in 1911, being renamed SS Scotian"

Did some further research, deeper than Wikipedia, although still not with any certainty, Statendam maybe related to the neighborhood Statendam, which had a history in the sugar industry in the end of the 19th century. 

 

Since this is also the period that Statendam I entered service, this is plausible. Before this, also the Werkendam entered service in 1890 before the Statendam I, which entered service in 1898. Both the (former) village of Werkendam and the neighborhood Statendam were close together (less then 20km) to the south-east of Rotterdam and both places have the same history in the sugar industry in the end of the 19^th century.

 

Naming these two ships the way they did, in relation to the importance in that time in the sugar industry, could be a logical explanation.

 

Maybe Captain Albert Schoonderbeek has the best knowledge in this.

 

Edited November 7, 2021 by Alphen

[Caribbean Chris]

Captain’s welcome toast last night at 8:45 in BB King.

Edited November 7, 2021 by Caribbean Chris

[Caribbean Chris]

There is indeed a Book Exchange in Rotterdam VII’s library.

 

 

[Caribbean Chris]

Speaking of terra cotta soldiers …With apologies to the HAL officer who took and posted this photo during the early days of the pandemic - I am sorry not to provide proper credit - this was taken of the on Rotterdam VI after passengers were all off last year.

 

[Laminator]

4 hours ago, vitagirl said:

the Ocean Bar 

HAL has been pounding out casino offers the last 12 months. With the amount of pax sailing on casino offers they may feel they need more slot machines to accommodate those pax. I can assure you those slot machines will provide HAL alot more profit in one day than the Ocean bar will give them in 7 days.

[yarnsinger]

21 hours ago, Alphen said:

Statendam is not a city, nor a dam, but a neighbourhood in the Netherlands, near the city of Geertruidenberg! Statendam is most likely named after “de Staten van Holland “ which was the origin of the Netherlands.

 

I wrote this before I saw your earlier excellent post. We had found the same entry you did: 

 

A number of ships of the Holland America Line have been named Statendam, the name of an old dike on the island of Goeree-Overflakkee : SS Statendam (1898) was an ocean liner launched in 1898 and sold to the Allan Line in 1911, being renamed SS Scotian.

 

Bottom line, the question was "how many HAL ships were named after Dutch cities, and what were they? Our mostly Dutch group said four because we didn't think Statendam was a city, and we still think we were right, but we did have a bit of an unfair advantage. Bottom line, the whole thing was a ton of fun.

Edited November 7, 2021 by yarnsinger

[sansterre]

Thanks Vita girl - I've been trying to post these photos since getting on the ship and lost because I went the wrong way thinking I was seeing the Casino.  But yes, it is true, during the two days the Rotterdam was in Ft. Lauderdale, the Ocean Bar was repurposed into a non-smoking Casino.

I asked about the dance floor.  Response, what dance floor.

I asked about the band.  Response, the band is at the other end, down music walk.

It should be operational tonight.  

[sansterre]

16 hours ago, Laminator said:

@sansterreHow was Boarding yesterday? Did they hopefully stick to the boarding times? I am hearing the cruise on the 10th will have 1800 to 2000 pax. 

We (continuing passengers) boarded before noon.  At breakfast we ate with people who had boarding at 1 and 2.  They stuck to their boarding times, but they talked to someone who had arrived two hours early and was able to board.

[sansterre]

Rotterdam at dock in Bimini.  Winds off shore at 25 mph.

It was a wild walk to the tram!

[Laminator]

9 minutes ago, sansterre said:

We (continuing passengers) boarded before noon.  At breakfast we ate with people who had boarding at 1 and 2.  They stuck to their boarding times, but they talked to someone who had arrived two hours early and was able to board.

Thank You for the response.

[sansterre]

17 hours ago, sansterre said:

Sailaway yesterday was delayed until around 7:30-8:00.  Captain said ship was waiting for necessary supplies.  There was no hurry to leave as our first port, Bimini is close to Ft. L.

Departure was beautiful with at least two fire boats shooting water and a chorus of horns of all types including a Princess and Carnival cruise ship nearby.

We watched from our balcony and took photos and videos.  I'll post photo, not sure that I can put a video on here, or not.

Correction, it was a Celebrity ship, not Carnival ship tooting our departure.

I was just reading a thread about our departure out of Ft. Lauderdale.  Here is the link: 

 

Edited November 7, 2021 by sansterre

[bcummin]

6 hours ago, Alphen said:

Did some further research, deeper than Wikipedia, although still not with any certainty, Statendam maybe related to the neighborhood Statendam, which had a history in the sugar industry in the end of the 19th century. 

 

Captain Albert would be able to settle this.

Barbara

[sansterre]

Finally, this morning I made it out to Aft pool area.  It is spacious and quite lovely with two olive trees standing guard on each side.  I shall return to check out the stairs and look to see if there is a clear glass floor, or not.  Quessing now that that glass floor would actually be on the Tamarind Deck 10, not the Lido Deck where the pool is.

[Cruise Suzy]

9 minutes ago, sansterre said:

I shall return to check out the stairs and look to see if there is a clear glass floor, or not.  Quessing now that that glass floor would actually be on the Tamarind Deck 10, not the Lido Deck where the pool is.

 

The glass area folks have been asking about is part of the stairways between decks 9 and 10. It is over the water on both port and starboard. Here are photos of it on Koningsdam